Metal-working machine



May 1, 1928.

C. M. YODER METAL WORKING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 24. 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 1 May 1, 1928. 1,668,298

7 c. M. YODER METAL WORKI NG MACHINE Original Filed 1922 3 Sheets-SheetMay 1, 1928. c. M. YODER 1,668,298

METAL WORKI NG MA'GHIN E Original Fil 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Patented May1, 1923.

onrrsn STA-TIES rarest cnnnivr. YODER, or CLEVELAND, onio, nssienonroTHE YonnncoMPaiiY, or

v CLEVELAND, onro, A conronn'rron on OHIO.

METAL-WORKING Mac-inns.

npplication filed Iiovember 24, 1922, Serial No. 602,962. RenewedNovember 9, 1927.

This invention relates to a metal working machine, more particularly forseaming strips or sections of sheet metal together, such as fenders andskirts for automobiles.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character ofrelatively simple construction, comprising few parts which may bereadily operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter with an, attachment capable of holding and guiding the stripsor sections of metal to the seaming elements, whereby they may be seamedrapidly and easily, as well as accurately.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in theart to which my invention relates, from the following scription, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 3

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view of'the machine, enlarged. J

Fig. 4C is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the holding and guidingmembers on the other side of the machine, whereby the strips or sectionsto be seamed maybe fed to the seaming elements in the other direction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the holding and guiding members inoperative position, holding and guiding two strips or sections of metal.7

Fig. (5 is a fragmentary sectional view through the seaming elements,showing the operation of seaming two strips or sections of metal.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the holding and guidingmembers reversed to scam a fender and a skirt, where these parts arereversed as compared to that shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the power reversing mechanism for thedriving shaft.

Fig. 9 illustrates a machine embodying my invention but of slightlymodified construction..

In the drawings, 1 indicates a frame which ,may be of anydesiredconstruction, being preferably hollow to reduce its cost andweight, while providing a support for the drivensha-fts 2, 3, to belater referred to. The frame 1 is fashioned to provide upper and lowerarms 2 3", which support the metal working elements, that is, theseaming elements 4: and 5,respectively, at

their outerends, and provide ample space to permit free movement of themetal strips between the arms, as they pass the seaming elements at, 5.The upper surface of the arm 3, near its outer end, is formed with anopening 6, which is flanged at 6 ,to form a seat for a tubular member 7.member 7 is flanged atjits lower end, and such flange rests on and issecured to the flange 6, preferably by cap screws 8. 3 indicates astandard guided to move vertically in the tubular member 7. The upperend of the standard 9 is provided with anopening 10 (see Fig. 6) toreceive a stud shaft 11. The stud shaft 11 is secured in positionin theopening 10 by means of a nut'll, engaging it at one end. The oppositeend of the stud shaft 11 serves as a support for a sprocket 12, having ahub 13, to which is keyed, in a well-known manner, the seaming element4. I

At its lower end, the standard 9 carries alug 14, towhich is pivotallyconnected a collar 15,-form'ing a bearing for the front endof the shaft2. The shaft 2 extends through the bearing 15, and carries at its'outerend a sprocket 16, in linewith the sprocket 12, whereby the latter maybe driven by the formerjby a chain 17. shaft 2 is supported by a bearing18, pivot-- ally supported by a cross rod 19, supported at its oppositeends in the walls of the frame 1. By pivotally supporting the shaft 2 atits rear end in the frame 1, and supporting its outer end on thestandard 9, it will be seen that the latter may be moved or ad justedvertically while maintaining driving connection with the sprocket 12, towhich the seaming element at is connected. By preference, the wall ofthe standard 9 is shaped to form a guard 9 for the sprocket 12, as

most clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

20 indicates as an entirety adjusting means for the standard 9, wherebythe seam-' ing elements may be caused to cooperate with the seamingelement 5, to scam the strips of metal according to the gauge of themetal being operated 7 upon. Of these means, 21 indicates a plate fixedto the front end of the arm 3*, preferably by means of cap screws 22.The plate '21 isformed with Fries". f

The rear end of the The tubular an opening 23, and provided with tubularbosses 23, 23 which form a bearing for a shaft 24. The shaft 24 carriesa hand wheel 25 at its outer end. At its inner end the shaft 24 isprovided with a cam 26 which engages the lower end of the standard 9, asshown in Fig. 2, preferably in line with its axis. If the hand wheel 25is rotated in one direction, the cam 26 will cause the standard 9 tomove upwardly; if it is moved in the opposite direction, it will allowthe standard to move downwardly.

27, 28, indicate a pair of spaced members, formed with pairs of alignedopenings; one pair of such openings serves to receive and support thefront end of the shaft 3, and the other pair serves to receive andsupport a shaft 29. The member 28 is preferably supported at its upperend by the shaft 3, while its lower end is held stationary between apair of bolts 30, only one of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Themembers 27 and 28 are spaced relative to each other, to provide room forgears 31, 32, keyed in a well known manner to the shafts 3, 29,respectively, and meshing with each other, whereby the power of theshaft 3 is transmitted to theshaft 29. The outer end of the shaft 29 ispreferably reduced to receive the hub of the seaming element 5, this hubbeing keyed to the shaft and held thereon by a nut 33. The shaftsupporting member 27 is preferably held in position by a plate 34,secured to the front end of the arm 2 by a cap screws The shaft 3 isprovidedwith a sprocket 36, over which a chain 3'? runs, said chainengaging a sprocket 37 on the shaft 2, and thus transmitting the powerthereof to the shaft 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the frame 1 is provided inits rear wall with an opening surrounded by bosses l, which serve as abearing for the extended inner end of the shaft 3. 38 indicates a gearfixed to the free end of the shaft 3, beyond the frame 1. The gear 38meshes with a gear 39, which in turn meshes with a gear 40. The gear 40meshes with a gear 40, which is fixed to a main driving shaft 41; theshaft 41 is preferably driven by a belt pulley 42, being connected tothe shaft 41 and disconnected therefrom by a suitable clutch 43,operated through connections 44 by a foot pedal 45. The gears 39 and 40are mounted in a frame 46, which straddles the gear 40 and looselypivots on the shaft 41, whereby it may swing to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 8 to cause the gear 40 to engage the gear 38 andthe gear 39 to disengage the latter. Vhen thus operated, the rotation ofthe shaft 3 will be reversed. The frame 46 may be operated by a link 4'?connected to a hand lever 48. The mechanism for reversing the directionof rotation of the gear 38 is desirable so that the machine may beequipped with my improved holding and guiding attachment, indicated asan entirety at 49, at either side of the frame 1, whereby sheets orstrips of metal to be seamed together may be fed to the seam ingelements in either direction, it being obvious that in some instancesthesheets or sections of metal must be guided to the seaming elements inone direction and in other instances in the other direction. The seamingelements 4, 5, preferably comprise a flat roller and a channeled roller,respectively, which co-operate, as shown in Fig. 6, to roll down theinterlocking flanged portions a of the metal strips, such a fender A anda skirt B, into a seam.

(lit the holding and guiding attachment 49, 50, 51, indicate a pair ofgrooved rollers adapted simultaneously to engage the sheets of metalalong their folded edges, and through their co-action, one with theother, to hold the interlocked flanged portions a of the sheets inassembled relationship (see Fig. 5) while guiding such portions to theseaming elements 4, 5. The rollers 50, 51, are mounted to moverelatively to each other, that is, outwardly, to permit the positioningof the sheets of metal between them (see F 1.) and then toward eachother into operative position, as shown in Fig. 5, to maintain theflanges a in interlocked relation or position for seaming. As will beunderstood from Figs. 1 and 5, the rollers 50, 51, (i) when in theirseparated position, are disposed at opposite sides of the plane in whichthe seaming elements are disposed, but move in a direction transverse tothat plane toward each other to engage the folded edges of the sheetsand (2). are arranged simultaneously to engage the folded edges of themetal sheets at a position which is or which maintains the interlockedflanges in alignment with the seaming elements 4, 5. By maintaining therollers in engagement with the folded edges of the metal sheets, theywill serve to hold the latter in assembled relationship as well as toproperly guide them to the seaming elements. 52 indicates a leverpivotally mounted upon a bracket 53, and carrying at its lower end theroller 50. 54 indicates a lever pivotally mounted upon a boss 55projecting laterally from the standard 9 and carrying at its upper endthe roller 51. As shown, the levers are mounted on axes which extend indirection transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets orstrips through and between the elements 4, 5, so that the holding andguiding rollers 50 and 51 move toward each other at substantially rightangles to the direction of movement of the metal strips or interlockingportionsthereof. The levers '52, 54, are connected to suitable devices,indicated as an entirety at 56, whereby they may be movedsimultaneously. The devices 56 pref erably comprise a lever 57,fulcrumed intermediate its ends at 58, the upper end of the lever beingconnected by rod 59 to the upper end of the lever 52, and the lower endof the lever 57 being connected by a rod 60 to the lower end of thelever 54. As will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2, theconnection 61between the lever 57, and the rods 59, 60, respectively, and between thelatter and the levers 52, 54, respectively, are pivotal' ones, to permitof relative movements between these elements. Preferably each connection61. comprises a block 62, which is formed'with an opening to receive theadjacent rod. As shown, the rod is threaded to receive nuts 62, whichare tightened against the block, and thus secure the rod and blocktogether. ment also permits each rod to be adjusted, relative to thelevers 57 and 52 or 5a, to insure proper co-action between the holdingand guiding rollers 50, 51. At one side the block is provided with apin, 63, which loosely fits an opening 64, in the adjacent lever. Theouter end of the pin 63 is thread ed to take a nut, 65, to preventdisengage ment of the lever and rod.

66 indicates as an entirety means for op erating the devices 56. Theoperating means 66 may comprise a bell crank 67, having a pivotalconnection with one of the elements of the operating devices 56, such asthe rod 60, a link 68 connected at one end to'the bell crank 67, and atits other end to a foot pedal 69. The bell crank 67 is. pivotallyconnected to a collar 7 O, which in turn is adjustably' connected to therod.

60, preferably by a set screw 71.

Each of the rollers 50, 51, is preferably mounted for adjustment,namely, in a direction that is substantially transverse to the plane inwhich the other roller is mounted, and angularly about the end of theadjacent lever, whereby their relative relationship when in operativeposition may be changed to insure their positive operation, according tothe size or width of the folded portions of the sheet metal and theinterlocking relationship of the sections to be seamed. As the mountingfor each roller 50, 51, is similar to that for the other roller, adescription of the mounting for one of them will be suflicient. Forexample, the roller 50 is loosely mounted in a bushing 72, which issupported on the free end of a stud shaft 73 by a screw 74, fitting anopening in the. end of the shaft. The shaft 7 3 slidably fits an opening75 formed in a'block 76, being fixed therein by a set screw 77. Theblock 76 is rigidly connected to a bar 78, which rotatably fits anopening 79 formed in the free end of the lever 52. The pin or bar 7 8extends through the opening 79, and is screw threaded at its outer endto take a nut 80, whereby it may be secured in its adjusted position.This construction is advantageous since it permits the rollers 50,

This arrange- 51, to be transposed so that the roller 50is at the outersideof the rolling down or seam ing elements 4:, 5, and the roller 51 isat the inner side thereof-see Fig. 7 ,such arrange ment being desirablewhen the seaming operation is to be effected upon a pair of metal 1strips or sheetstransposed from that shown in Fig. 5. Y

As will be understood from the drawings, the lever 5% is mounted on thestandard 9, and movestherewith whenever the standard is adjusted, thisarrangement serving to maintain the holding and guiding roller 51 inalignment with the adjacent seaming-element 4- at all times.

The attachment 49 may be arrangedupon either side of the frame I or theattachment may be duplicated upon opposite sides thereof. In this latterconstruction certain elements thereof may be removed,dependent upon thedirection in which the metal sheets.

are fed to or through the sean'iing'elements.

For this purpose, the standard9 is provided with a boss 55, at eitherside thereof, and the f frame 1 is formed on its opposite sides withopenings for the fulcrums 58 for the levers 5 In Fig. 9 I have shown aslightly modified form of metal working machine in which the operatingelements may be shaped to seam or head the interlocking sections of themetal. Referring to this figure, 1 indicates the frame having spacedprojecting arms 81, 82, carrying at their outer ends a pair ofmetalworking elements 88, 84, respectively. '85, 86, indicate a pair ofholding and guiding rollers loosely mounted on levers 87,88,respectively, hereby they may be movedtoward or from each other. Thelevers, 87, 88 are pivotally mounted on brackets 89, 90, carried by thearms 81, 82, respectively. The levers 87, 88, are connected by rods 91,92, respectively, to the free ends of a lever 98 pivotally mounted onthe frame 1*. The lever 93 is connected by a rod 94 to a foot lever 95,whereby the guiding rollers 85, 86, are moved simultaneously toward eachother or in the oppositedirection.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates manymodifications and widely differing embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggest themselves Without departing from the spirit andscope thereof. It will me understood that the description and thedisclosures herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting. 1 p I What I claim is: p -1. In a machine of thecharacter described, the combination of a pair of elements having theiraxes in a common plane for rolling down interlocked portions of metalsheets, and apair of devices mounted in front of said elements, one ofsaid devices being adjacent each side of the interlocked portions of thesheets and means during operation to move both of said devices towardand from each other to engage and hold the interlocked portions forguiding them to and between said elements.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair ofelements for rolling down interlocked portions of metal sheets, and apair of relatively movable devices for holding the sheets in assembledrelationship while guiding them through and between said elements, andmeans for simultaneously moving said devices into engagement with theinterlocked portions of the metal sheets.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair ofelements for rolling down interlocked portions of metal sheets, a pairof guiding devices arranged to engage opposite edges of the sheets,levers disposed at one side of said rolling down elements for supportingsaid devices in operative relation thereto, and means for operating saidlevers, whereby said devices co-act to guide the metal sheets to saidrolling down elements.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair o1elements having their axes in a common plane for rolling downinterlocking portions of metal sheets, means for adjustably supportingone of said elements, and a pair of guiding devices mounted for movementduring operation toward and from said interlocking portions of thesheets with the axes or" said guiding devices in a fixed plane parallelto the plane of the axes of said elements for holding the sheets inassembled relationship while guiding them to and between said elements,one of said guiding devices being supported on said adjustablesupporting means.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair ofelements having their axes in a common plane for rolling downinterlocking port-ions of metal sheets, means for adjustably supportingone of said elements, a pair of devices each movable during operationrelative to each other transversely of the sheets and in advance oftheir travel to the rolling down elements for holding the sheets inassembled relationship while guiding them to and between said elements,one of said devices be ing supported on said adjustable supportingmeans, and means for rotating one of said rolling down elements.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair ofelements having their axes in a common plane for rolling downinterlocking portions of metal sheets, pair of devices for engaging theinterlocked portions to hold them in assembled relationship, saiddevices cooperatin'g with said elements to support the interlockingportions while guiding them to and between said elements, means for supporting said devices to move toward and from each other in a directionparallel to the plane of the axes of said elements and in front thereof,and means for adjusting one of said devices on its supporting means.

7. In a machineot the character described, the combination of a frame, amember adjust-ably supported on said frame, a pair of elements carriedby said frame and member for rolling down interlocking portions of metalsheets, a pair of devices for holding the sheets in assembledrelationship while guiding them to and between said elements, one ofsaid devices being movable with the adjustable member, and means formoving said devices toward and from each other.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7 in which the moving means operatesthe guiding devices in a plane transverse to the direction of movementof the metal sheets.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair ofelements for rolling together interlocking portions of sheets of metal,devices for engaging the interlocking portions at their opposite sides,to hold the sheets in assembled relationship while guiding them to saidelements, and means for movably supporting said devices to move towardand from each other in a plane transverse to the plane of movement ofthe sheets of metal, whereby they may be separated to permit thepositioning of the metal sheets and operated for the purposes set forth,and connections between the supporting means for said devices foroperating them in either direction simultaneously.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9 in which the guiding devicescomprise loosely mounted rollers.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pairof elements for rolling together interlocking portions of sheets ofmetal, devices for engaging the interlocking portions at their oppositesides, to hold the sheets in assembled relationship, while guiding themto said elements, means for supporting said devices to move in a planetransverse to the plane of movement of the sheets of metal, whereby theymay be separated to permit the posi tion of the metal sheets andoperated for the purposes set forth, and a set of connected devices,arranged to operate said holding devices simultaneously toward or fromeach other.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pairof elements for rolling down interlocking portions of metal sheets,means for rotating one of said elements, a pair of loosely mountedrollers for engaging the interlocking portions at their opposite sidesto hold the sheets in assembled relationship while guiding them to saidelements, means for supporting said devices to move in a planetransverse to the plane of movement of the metal sheets, whereby theymay be separated to permit the positioning of the metal sheets, andoperated for the purposes set forth, and means for adjusting one of saidelements and the adjacent holding device relative to the other elementand holding device, respectively.

13. In apparatus of the character described the combination of a pair ofmetal rolling elements, a pair of levers, a pair of guide devicesmounted on the free ends of said levers and arranged to engage theopposite edges of metal sections to be rolled by said rolling elementsand guide them thereto, and means for operating said levers to movesaiddevices toward each other and maintain them in engagement with themetal sections, whereby said devices co-act to guide the metal sections.

14. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a pairof elements for rolling down or seaming interlocking portions of metalsheets, a pair of levers, devices mounted on said levers for holding andguiding the interlocked sheets to said elements, and means forsimultaneously operating said levers.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pairof rolls mounted on parallel shafts for co-action to roll or seaminterlocking portions of metal sheets, a pair of guide members forguiding the interlocked sheets in a direction substantially at rightangles to the axes of said rolls, said guide members being movabletoward and from each other in planes at substantially right angles tothe movement of the metal sheets, and means for simultaneously movingsaid guide members toward each other and maintaining them in cooperativerelation to guide the metal sheets.

16. A pair of opposing seaming rolls, a pair of guides each movabletransversely of the material fed to therolls, and means for thrustingthe guides toward each other to bring the two edges of the material tobe seamed into position for feeding between the seaming rolls from saidguides, said guides co-operating with said rolls to support the materialwhile guiding it to said rolls,

17. A pair of opposing seaming rolls, a pair of rotatable guidesdisposed upon opposite sides of the sheet material having the two edgesto be seamed together, said guides each being movable toward and fromopposite sides of the material in front of said rolls, and means forthrusting the guides into position for directing the said edges be tweenthe seaming rolls, said guides cooperating with said rolls to supportthe material while guiding it to said rolls.

18. A pair of opposing seaming rolls, a pair of opposite shrouded guiderollers upon opposite sides of the sheet material having the edges to beunited, said guides each being movable toward and from opposite sides ofthe material in front of said rolls, and means for thrusting the rollersinto position for directing the said edges between the seaming rolls,said guides co-operating with said rolls to support the material whileguiding it to said rolls.

19. A guide mechanism for sheet material seaming rolls embodying amanually controlled member, a pair of guides oppositely of the materialas directed. to the seaming rolls, and connections from the member toeifect shifting of both guides simultaneously into material directingposition.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CARL M. YODER.

